Cultures and memories
Hibiscus Rising, Leeds. © David Lindsay.
These are the customs and traditions, skills and knowledge, passed down to us through generations.
Since 1994 we have awarded £460million to more than 24,100 community and cultural heritage projects across the UK.
What do we support?
We fund projects which help to explore, save and celebrate the traditions, customs, skills and knowledge of different communities.
This cultural heritage is sometimes referred to as intangible or living heritage. This is because it is constantly changing and kept alive when practiced or performed.
We also fund projects which document and share people’s memories. This often involves capturing oral histories and ensuring they are accessible now and in the future.
Project ideas
Our funding could help people:
- research and share oral traditions, such as storytelling or local dialects
- train others in traditional skills and crafts, from dry stone walling and blacksmithing to basket weaving and textile making
- research the origins of culture, such as music, theatre or dance, and create performances influenced by past styles
- share the history and fun of celebrations, festivals or rituals with new audiences, from games and cooking to carnivals and fayres
- capture accounts of traditional knowledge or pass it on, such as woodland management or home remedies
- record the stories of ordinary people through oral histories, for example about growing up, migration or work
- retell people’s memories about a place or event, such as a long-stay hospital, the miners' strikes or the punk movement
How to get funding
If you have an idea for a project, we would love to hear from you.
Hedd Wyn
News
£2.8million Lottery grant success for Hedd Wyn’s home
As Wales embarks on four years of First World War commemorations, the HLF is playing a key role in the centenary by conserving the Grade II* listed home of the iconic Welsh poet who lost his life in the conflict. Ellis Humphrey Evans, better known by his bardic name, Hedd Wyn, was raised at Yr
News
London Transport Museum unveils restored B-type ‘battle’ bus
London Transport Museum has unveiled a restored double deck open top B-type bus as part of its commemorations of the First World War. The B-type bus No. B2737, appeared in public for the first time in Covent Garden on 12 June 2014 - resplendent in its red and cream livery, and featuring
News
Archaeological investigations of Barnsley Pals training camp
To mark the Centenary of the First World War, this project will enable local people in the Barnsley area to be involved with the archaeological, geophysical and landscape survey of the Silverwood Newhall Training Camp site. This project will add to the understanding of the Barnsley Pals battalion’s
News
Hull and East Riding Institute for the Blind celebrates its 150th anniversary year
This exciting project, A History of Blindness in Hull & East Yorkshire, will share the story of how the lives of the blind community of the region have been impacted by legislation, social attitudes and global events throughout the last 150 years. The project includes a touring exhibition around
News
Wales at War
The impact of the First World War is still felt by us today. It is both a sad but significant part of our national heritage, our national story and our national culture. But the scope of HLF funded work is not just at local level. We are also funding several national, Wales-wide projects which look
News
Just Imagine life without National Lottery funding
To highlight the difference this money makes to real people and projects a short animated film, narrated by Ricky Tomlinson and starring Ricky, Chris Hoy and Beth Tweddle will be launched on 28 April. The film connects people and projects across the UK and asks the nation to imagine what life would
News
Norfolk’s Wartime Memories remembered in new show: To End All Wars
The idea is to reveal the stories of people living in the county during the wartime period, enable young people to find out more about the period, share their work online, and some schools will be selected to take part in a special performance entitled To End All Wars at the theatre on Friday 1
News
£34.5m Lottery investment in UK’s public parks
Today the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Big Lottery Fund announced £34.5million of investment in 13 parks across the UK. This new funding follows the publication of the HLF’s recent report (26 June) which revealed the UK’s public parks are at serious risk of decline unless innovative new ways of
News
Beverley Georgian Festival celebrates
A nine day Georgian Festival is planned in the historic East Yorkshire market town of Beverley. This exciting project will mark and celebrate the 300th anniversary of the accession to the throne of King George I and the completion of Beverley’s Market Cross. The Festival Committee, led by Beverley
News
Walkley Community Centre unveils restored First World War memorial windows
Representatives of the men’s families are gathering from across the country for the first time to attend the unveiling. The ceremony will take place on Sunday 3rd August — the centenary of the eve of Britain’s entry into the war. The Club is now Walkley Community Centre and the windows were
News
Telling Tales: Halsway Manor’s oral history project wins Lottery support
'Telling Tales' is an oral history project which will uncover the hidden history of a unique folk centre based in an ancient Somerset manor house that has never been revealed before. Halsway Manor has played a significant role in the folk revival since the 1960s. Several generations of people – from
News
The Folly in Settle helps to launch Craven’s First World War commemorations
Visitors can look forward to learning about the recruitment of volunteers and the commandeering of local horses following the outbreak of war, as well some of the lesser-known stories, such as the Belgian refugees who were brought to Settle and the efforts of local people to raise money and support